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 Also on Tuesday, Wisconsin Democrats are expected to chose Mary
Burke in the primary to face Republican Governor Scott Walker in
November.
The victor in the Minnesota primary, being contested by current and
former state lawmakers and businessmen, will face an incumbent
governor with more campaign money than any of them and a lead in
polls. Even so, Dayton may be vulnerable after pressing for a state
income tax increase, pundits say.
"No one really has a good idea who is going to win and how that will
come about," said Steven Schier, a professor of political science at
Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. "This is truly up in the
air."
Minnesota Republicans have endorsed Jeff Johnson, a former state
lawmaker and a current commissioner in Hennepin County, which
includes Minneapolis. Former state House Speaker Kurt Zellers,
former state Representative Marty Seifert, businessman Scott Honour
and retired executive Merrill Anderson are also on the ballot.
As of July 21, Dayton had about $847,000 cash available, while
Honour had $542,000, Zellers more than $145,000, Johnson about
$123,000 and Seifert $71,000.
"They are largely unknown, they are largely underfunded and were
already running behind in the polls," Schier said. "Other than that
they are in great shape."
Johnson has focused on his party's endorsement, Seifert on rural
voters, Zellers on his tenure as a legislative leader and Honour his
status as a self-funding outsider, Schier said.
Mike McFadden, an investment banker endorsed by Minnesota
Republicans, is favored to win the U.S. Senate primary and face
Senator Al Franken, who narrowly won election in 2008.
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McFadden has targeted the Democratic incumbent, not fellow
Republicans, and is expected to tie Franken to President Barack
Obama's popularity ratings and policies in the general election
campaign.
As of July 23, Franken had a wide lead in available cash at about
$4.3 million, while McFadden had about $1.4 million.
Wisconsin Democrats rallied early on around Burke, a former
executive at Trek Bicycle, a company founded by her father. She is
expected to defeat state Representative Brett Hulsey in the
gubernatorial primary.
Governor Walker and Burke have been statistically even in recent
polls.
"This race is anyone's race and will be about whom turns out to
vote," said Tim Dale, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political
scientist.
(Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by
Eric Walsh)
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